This medal was instituted in 1941 and awarded to all Ethiopian soldiers and irregulars who fought against the Italian occupation between 1935 and 1941. This medal can be found with palm devices on the ribbon to mark each year the fighter was engaged.
This medal was created by Haile Salassie to reward the people who assisted the large number of refugees created by the invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 by the Italians and the subsequent struggle until 1941 to expel them.
In 1966 this medal was created and awarded to all surviving members of the Polish forces who had joined in the attack and capture of Berlin in April and May 1945.
This medal was created in 1981 and was awarded to all the participants in the Warsaw Uprising of July 1944. The symbol in the centre represents the insurgent’s armbands.
This Polish medal was awarded to the communist Polish forces who fought beside the Soviets on the front running from the Baltic Sea to the Oder River.
This is a Polish medal instituted in 1945 and awarded to the 1939 defenders, those involved in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 and partisans operating in the Warsaw area.
This Polish medal was instituted in 1981 and awarded to all members of the border forces and armed forces who participated in the defence of Poland in September and October 1939.
This is a Polish medal awarded to all those who served in the irregular forces within Poland between 1939 and 1945. Because of it’s early institution (October 1945) it was awarded to both Communist and Home Army fighters.
This is an later award of the second issue of this medal which was awarded to all Poles who had fought the Germans, at home as well as overseas.
This is an early award of the second issue of this medal which was awarded to all Poles who had fought the Germans, at home as well as overseas.
This medal, despite its name, was awarded to all victims who were interned in the German camp system. It was also awarded to some foreigners. The ring on this example is correct as it is formed in the pattern of barbed wire.
This Thai medal was awarded to soldiers who were in the war zone. There was a ribbon device that indicated whether the recipient was actually under fire. Meh. The writing on it means “We fight for Thailands honour”.
This is a Thai medal, issued to soldiers who took part in the war to take over Cambodia and Laos from the French after the fall of France. This was issued to those who crossed the border but didn’t actually do any fighting. What can I say?
This is a medal issued by Thailand to forces, mobilised for the takeover of French Indo-China in 1940 but never actually deployed to the war zone.
This medal, from Brazil, was awarded to the men of the BEF “Força Expedicionaria Brasileira” who deployed to Italy to join the Allies in fighting the Nazi’s. Miserably prepared by their government these men were fortunate to be taken under the care of the Americans who had to struggle to even find combat boots to fit the small feet of the Brazilians. They were well led however and undoubtably brave in combat considering their complete lack of experience.
This medal was issued to the personnel who made up the “Força Expedicionaria Brasileira“. It’s not commonly known that these soldiers served in Italy fighting the Germans.
This is the “Médaille du Prisonnier de Guerre 1940–1945” awarded to all members of the Belgian armed forces imprisoned by the Axis.
This is the “Médaille Commémorative de la Guerre 1940–45″. The crossed sabres denoting combat service in the 1940 campaign or service in the armed resistance. There is another variant below. The design of these Belgian medals is just so much more impressive than the British Commonwealth ones that I am used to.
This medal, the Médaille du Volontaire 1940–1945″ was awarded to all voluntary members of Belgian armed forces in WW2 whether they fought under the Belgian flag or in foreign units like the RAF. This is the second variant with the full figure on the obverse.
This medal, the Médaille du Volontaire 1940–1945″ was awarded to all voluntary members of Belgian armed forces in WW2 whether they fought under the Belgian flag or in foreign units like the RAF.
This medal, the “Médaille du Combattant Militaire de la Guerre 1940–1945″ was awarded to all members of the Belgian armed forces and resistance who fought from England during WW2.
This is the “Médaille Commémorative de la Guerre 1940–45″. The crossed sabres denoting combat service in the 1940 campaign or service in the armed resistance. There is an excellent collection belonging to Bill Simpson here.
This is the “Médaille de la Résistance 1940–1945“. It was awarded to all members of the active resistance as well as intelligence operators in occupied areas.
This medal was awarded primarily to officers and men who served during the period 1940-1945 in Belgium’s colonies in the Congo and Rwanda. It was awarded for other service areas like Burma, the Middle East and Madagascar and bars were provided for this service.
This medal was issued with a number of bars. This one is with the Oost-Azië/Zuid-Pacific 1942-1945 bar.
Kiwi Medals 